In Brief: Buffett disapproves of Coca-Cola's pay plan

Buffett, whose company is Coca-Cola's largest shareholder, called the plan "excessive" in an interview after it was approved at the beverage maker's annual meeting. But he said Berkshire Hathaway abstained from voting against it because he didn't want to express disapproval of the company's management.

Buffett also noted during the interview how difficult it can be to sit on company boards and oppose a pay plan. Buffett said that he has never heard anyone speak out against a compensation committee's plan in 55 years of serving on company boards.

"Taking them on is a little bit like belching at the dinner table. You can't do it too often," Buffett said.

Paid family leave fails to spread through states

California became the first state to embrace government-backed paid family and medical leave more than a decade ago. Since then, few other states have followed California's path, and supporters are now considering a different approach.

After lobbying state by state for years, some supporters of paid family leave say it's time for a federal solution. A proposal in Congress from Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York would export the models used in California, New Jersey and Rhode Island nationwide. Those are the only three states with their own paid leave laws.

"Historically, and certainly with respect to paid leave, the states have been laboratories," said Vicki Shabo, director of work and family programs at the National Partnership for Women and Families, which focuses on workplace fairness, health care access and policies to support working parents. "We certainly would hope to see more state innovation, but ultimately I do think that a national solution is the way to go."

Following passage of FMLA, there were nascent efforts to build a national paid leave program on top of the existing Social Security or unemployment insurance systems, but those foundered. So advocates instead turned to the states.